Immigration probe launched over 'missing' Ugandan boxers who have not returned home from Glasgow's Commonwealth Games

Published: 18:23, 4 August 2026 | Updated: 18:26, 4 August 2026 Four Ugandan boxers have gone missing after competing in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The Ugandan sporting news website NBS Sport said that four members of the team did not rejoin the delegation before their scheduled return on Tuesday. The athletes, Angel Katushabe, Nuhu Batte, Ibrahim Khemis and Emily Nakalema, were part of a six-member boxing team at the games. Speaking anonymously to NBS Sport, one of the athletes admitted that they intended to seek asylum in the UK. The boxer said they wanted to continue their careers in a country with better training facilities and opportunities. They asked not to be judged by the Ugandan public for the decision.     A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'Police Scotland has received reports of several athletes who are unaccounted for. 'Inquiries are ongoing to assess the circumstances, and early engagement is taking place with the Home Office.' Emily Nakalema is one of the four athletes who 'went missing' after the Games finished Nuhu Batte also did not rejoin his teammates ahead of their departure from Glasgow Ibrahim Khemis (blue) is another of the boxing team who did not report back to Uganada Angel Katushabe is also missing following the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games Speaking to the Press Association on Monday, Commonwealth Games chief executive Phil Batty said: 'We've welcomed nearly 3,000 athletes to the city from 74 nations. 'We want to deliver a safe and secure games, so we work really closely with Police Scotland, the Border Force, and UK visas and immigration to make sure everyone arrives and departs in line with regulation.' The Press Association understands that the Home Office will take action accordingly if it is made aware of any breaches of immigration law, and that it takes all necessary steps to prevent people who could abuse the immigration system from entering the UK. The Home Office maintains a policy of not routinely commenting on individual asylum cases. Around 400 foreign athletes and officials have gone AWOL in the last six Commonwealth Games – three of which have been held in the UK, according to The Sun. In Manchester 2002, 27 athletes were unaccounted for, including 21 from Sierra Leone, four Bangladeshi runners and a swimmer from Pakistan. In Glasgow in 2014, 66 athletes fled including two Ugandan rugby players. And in Birmingham in 2022, 17 athletes outstayed their welcome, including two Pakistan boxers who went on the run.  The Ugandan ministry of education and sports has been contacted for comment.